Dutch city dresses as controversial Black Pete character for Christmas parade

Dutch city dresses as controversial Black Pete character for Christmas parade

The Dutch city of Dokkum celebrated the arrival of Saint Nicholas ahead of the Christmas season on Nov. 18, 2017 with a citywide parade of people dressed as the controversial Black Pete character. The character, introduced in Amstedam as Zwarte Piet in the 1800s, has been labeled as racist by many because of its blackface presentation.

Dutch city dresses as controversial Black Pete character for Christmas parade

Sinterklaas parade in the Netherlands

People dressed as Black Pete wave to the crowd during a parade for the arrival of Sinterklaas, or Saint Nicholas, in Dokkum, Netherlands on Nov. 18, 2017. While the character is still celebrated in the Neatherlands, anti-Black Pete protests have become increasingly common in the country as well.